| Abstract |
The Geothermal Training Programme (GTP) in Iceland has been in continuous operation for 45 years, specializing in capacity building in all aspects of geothermal research and development for developing countries with geothermal potential. For most of its existence the GTP was affiliated with the United Nations University but since the beginning of 2000 it operates under GRÓ, International Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change, along with its 3 Icelandic sister programmes (https://www.grocentre.is/gro), under the auspices of UNESCO. Since 1979 the GTP’s core activity has been the operation of a six-month training programme in Iceland. Through 2021, 745 fellows from 64 countries have graduated from the programme. In addition to general geothermal education, each of the fellows receives specialized training along one of eight lines of specialization on offer; geothermal geology, geophysical exploration, reservoir engineering and borehole geophysics, chemistry of thermal fluids, environmental science, geothermal utilization, drilling technology, and project management and finances. Finally, each fellow completes a full-scale research project under the guidance of an Icelandic geothermal expert. Since 1998 the GTP has also supported outstanding six-month fellows for further studies at universities in Iceland, beginning with MSc-studies and adding PhD-studies to the rooster in 2008. Since then, 76 students have completed MSc-studies and 4 PhD-studies, with GTP support. Since 2005 GTP has offered short courses or workshops in other countries, both on a regular basis such as in Kenya and El Salvador, as well as based on specific needs. Thus, an even larger audience has been reached with a total of 1536 participants having benefitted from participating in 80 events. GTP has also contributed to regional training programmes in El Salvador, Kenya and China. This in-country training is reviewed in more detail in a separate paper at WGC2023. Most of GTP’s activities have been financed by the Government of Iceland, while a small part has been additionally financed through international support, or by local companies. The benefit of GTP’s capacity building is clearly witnessed by the progress of individual fellows, many of whom having become leading experts in their home countries, by advances in geothermal development in many supported countries as well by appraisals performed. This, along with other beneficial aspects of GTP’s training, including GTP’s emphasis on gender equality, is discussed further in another WGC2023 paper. |